Councillor: Moving central line families to Philippi will strain resources

A Cape Town councillor said that the relocation of families squatting along Metrorail’s central line to the Philippi Wedge area would negatively impact them and the host community.

According to Ward 43 councillor Elton Jansen, the proposed site is situated next to the Siqalo informal settlement, where a number of protests erupted in recent years over a lack of service delivery.

The central line has not been fully open since 2019 due to cable theft, vandalism and squatters on the tracks.

There are plans to return it to full service this year.

Ward 43 councillor and chairperson of sub-council 17, Jansen, said that the Housing Development Agency had submitted an emergency housing application on behalf of Prasa, which must be decided upon by full council.

He’s assured residents that sub-council 17 will not support the application and will strongly argue against it.

Jansen said that relocating the rail squatters to the Philippi Wedge area would put more strain on the electrical infrastructure, as illegal electricity connections would increase.

He also fears a spike in crime and said that this posed a risk to the Philippi Childrens Centre and the farming operation in the Philippi Horticultural Area.

-EWN

In other news – Killer Kau’s girlfriend allegedly marries his friend – Mzansi reacts

Mzansi reacts to speculations that Killer Kau‘s girlfriend has moved on with his friend! It has been over a year since one of the most tragic events in the Amapiano space has happened. In August 2021, South Africa was shocked and dismayed by the news of the tragic accident which took the lives of five people.

Included were Amapiano prominent musicians Mpura and Killer Kau. One of the biggest revelations which seemed to taint the remembrance of the Amapiano Five, as they came to be referred to, was the revelation of the love life of Killer Kau. Learn More